Stereophonic stethoscope

ABSTRACT

A stethoscope provided with two conducting tubes and sound sensors, and two 3-way stopcocks; enabling the sound from one sensor to be conducted to one ear, while that from the second sensor is conducted to the other ear. One of the conducting tubes may be detached when the stethoscope is used for monophonic auscultation.

BACKGROUND--FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to stethoscopes, specifically to an improvedmeans for monitoring two different sound sources simultaneously.

BACKGROUND--DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

French Patent 558,302 to Scheffler (1923) shows a stethoscope with twosensors or chest-pieces, one connected via a conducting tube to the leftear and the other to the right ear. This device cannot be converted formonophonic listening, i.e., with a single tube and chest-piece; and theuser is therefore compelled to have both tubes dangling from his neck atall times. French Patents 580,538 to dePauw (1924), 649,886 to Guery(1928), with addition No. 36,027 (1930), 666,401 to Wilenkin (1929),715,545 to Hardt (1931), and U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,811,558 to Porter (1931),1,853,951 to Zala (1932), 2,209,164 to Kerr (1940), 4,706,777 toBaumberg (1987), all suffer from the same disadvantages. The stethoscopeshown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,055 to Grady (1991) shows a commonconducting tube, thus abolishing any possibility of differential orstereophonic auscultation, whereby sounds from two sources such as thelungs can be compared.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the invention disclosed herein comprises a stereophonicstethoscope for simultaneously monitoring sound which emanates fromdifferent locations on a subject's body. Although embodiments of thisinvention capable of monitoring sound emanating from more than twodifferent locations may be possible, at least in one embodiment, theinvention comprises a stereophonic stethoscope for simultaneouslymonitoring sound emanating from two different locations on a subject'sbody. Essentially, the stethoscope comprises two sound sensors: (1) afirst sound sensor which detects a first sound which emanates from afirst location on the subject's body when the first sensor issubstantially in contact with the first location; and (2) a second soundsensor, which detects a second sound which emanates from a secondlocation on the subject's body when the second sensor is substantiallyin contact with the second location.

Each sound sensor is connected to a sound transmission conductor, suchas a conducting tube. Each transmission conductor transmits the soundwhich is detected by the sensor to which the conductor is attached.

A T-junction having three connection ports is also employed. Theconductor for the first sensor is attached to one connection port of theT-junction. The T-junction is then capable of transmitting the sounddetected by the first sensor to two stopcocks. The first stopcock isconnected to one of the connection ports of the T-junction. The firststopcock may be adjusted to transmit to a first ear piece and ear tipthe first sound from the T-junction.

The second stopcock is connected to another of the connection ports ofthe T-junction. The second stopcock may be adjusted to transmit to asecond ear piece and ear tip either: (a) the second sound withouttransmitting the first sound; or (b) the first sound withouttransmitting the second sound.

The sound directed from each of the stopcocks is transmitted througheach respective ear piece. Each sound then reaches the respective earsof the user of the stethoscope through the ear tips.

In another embodiment of the invention, a teaching binaural may beattached to the first stopcock such that a second user of thestethoscope, such as a student, may simultaneously hear the sound heardby the first user. In other embodiments of the invention, the soundtransmission conductors and/or the teaching binaural may also optionallybe removably attached to the stopcocks.

The objects and advantages of my invention are:

(a) To provide a stethoscope with two sound sensors which can be usedfor either monophonic or stereophonic purposes;

(b) To provide a stethoscope in which one conducting tube can easily bedetached and stored in the clinician's pocket, permitting thestethoscope to be used if desired as a monophonic instrument with asingle sensor;

(c) To provide a stethoscope in which an additional teaching binauralcan be attached when required to one of the two 3-way stopcocks,permitting a student to auscultate the heart, lungs, blood vessels,abdomen or other part of the body at the same time as the physician;

(d) To provide a stethoscope in which the two sensors can be of the bellor diaphragm type;

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the ensuing description and drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number butdifferent alphabetic suffices.

FIG. 1A shows a plan view of a stereophonic stethoscope of theinvention, connected for monophonic auscultation.

FIG. 1B is a section view of the 3-way stopcocks in the monophonic mode.The position of the lever indicates the direction in which there is noair channel, therefore no possibility of sound transmission.

FIG. 2A shows a plan view of the stereophonic stethoscope connected forstereophonic auscultation.

FIG. 2B is a section view of the 3-way stopcocks in the stereophonicmode.

FIG. 3A shows a second embodiment of the stethoscope with the teachingbinaural connected.

FIG. 3B is a section view of the 3-way stopcocks in the monophonic modewith the teaching binaural attached.

    ______________________________________                                        Reference Numerals in Drawings                                                ______________________________________                                        2      main binaural     12      connectors                                   4      teaching binaural 14      T-junction                                   6      3-way stopcock    16      ear pieces                                   8      sound conducting tubes                                                                          18      levers                                       10     sound sensor (diaphragm or                                                                      20      ear tips                                            bell)                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A typical embodiment of the stereophonic stethoscope of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1A. In the monophonic mode a soundreceiving sensor 10, which may be a diaphragm or bell or a combinationthereof, is connected to a conducting tube 8a, which transmits the soundequally via a T-junction 14 to the two 3-way stopcocks 6a and 6b, andthence via the ear pieces 16a and 16b of the main binaural 2 to the eartips 20a and 20b.

FIG. 1B shows the orientation of the 3-way stopcocks 6a and 6b forbinaural reception of a monophonic signal from the sensor 10. Referencewill be made to these drawings in describing the operation of theinvention. Three-way channels are located within the housing of stopcock6. Levers 18a and 18b are mounted externally on the housing. Turning oneor both of levers 18 changes the position of the channels and hence thedirection taken by the sound signal. The arrows in FIG. 1B depict thedirection in which sound travels from sensor 10 through stopcocks 6a and6b, through ear pieces 16a and 16b to ear tips 20a and 20b. The positionof the stopcocks in the position shown in FIG. 1B shall be referred toherein as the "monophonic mode."

FIG. 2A shows a means of attaching a second conducting tube 8b tostopcock 6b via connector 12b. FIG. 2B shows an enlarged cross-sectionalview of the stopcocks in "stereophonic mode." The term "stereophonicmode" as used herein shall mean the position of stopcocks 6a and 6b asshown in FIG. 2B. The arrows in FIG. 2B depict the direction in whichsound travels. In stereophonic mode, sound from sensor 10b istransmitted to the homolateral ear via ear piece 16b and prevented fromtraveling via T-junction 14 and ear piece 16a to the controlateral ear.Also, in stereophonic mode, sound from sensor 10a is transmitted to thecontrolateral ear via ear piece 16a and prevented from traveling via earpiece 16b to the homolateral ear.

An additional embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. In this case a teachingbinaural 4 is attached monophonically to stopcock 6a via connector 12a.FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the stopcocks arranged formonophonic reception by two examining persons of a sound signal from asingle sensor. In this position sound from sensor 10a is transmitted toear pieces 16a and 16b as well as to the ear pieces of teaching binaural4.

Operation

The manner of using the stethoscope in monophonic mode (see FIG. 1A and1B) is similar to that for stethoscopes in present use. With stopcocks6a and 6b in the monophonic mode, sensor 10a is applied to the patient'sskin and ear tips 20a and 20b are inserted into the observer's ears.

For stereophonic auscultation a second conducting tube 8b is connectedto stopcock 6b, as in FIG. 2A. Stopcocks 6a and 6b are then placed instereophonic mode (FIG. 2B). Sensors 10a and 10b of the same type,either diaphragms or bells, are attached to each of conducting tubes 8aand 8b, and applied to the desired auscultatory sites, such as the rightand left carotid arteries in the neck, the femoral arteries in theinguinal regions, the lungs, two different areas of the precordium, orthe external nasal orifices (diaphragms only being used here, to avoidtransmission of airborne infection from the patient's nose to theobserver's ears). In the teaching application (FIG. 3), sound from asingle sensor is transmitted via stopcock 6a to teaching binaural 4 aswell as to main binaural 2 via stopcocks 6a and 6b.

Ramifications and Scope

Accordingly, the reader will see that the stereophonic stethoscope ofthis invention can rapidly be switched from monophonic to stereophonicuse, and vice versa. Furthermore, the invention:

* permits one of the conducting tubes to be detached when thestethoscope is being used in the monophonic mode;

* permits an observer to note whether two events, such as the beginningof inspiration over the bases of both lungs, are occurringsimultaneously, an observation impossible to make except by stereophonicauscultation;

* permits the simultaneous reception of two different sound signals Xand Y received from sensors 10a and 10b respectively, in which X may belouder in one ear while Y is louder in the other. For example, over thecarotid arteries the sounds of transmitted heart valve closure may belouder on the right side, while a bruit due to turbulent or diminishedblood flow is louder on the left. Again, over the bases of the lungs,diminished air entry may be manifest on one side, while rales areaudible on the other;

* permits an operator to confirm small differences in sound intensity bysimply transposing the two sensors, so that the left ear hears signalsformerly heard by the right ear, and vice versa;

* permits the operator, while holding the sensors on the skin over thecarotid or femoral arteries, for example, to distinguish by palpationany differences in the force of the pulse on the two sides of the body.

Although the above description contains several specific applications,these are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but merelyto illustrate some of the preferred embodiments. For example, othertypes of stopcocks could be employed, the teaching binaural could bemodified for stereophonic auscultation using two conducting tubesinstead of one, etc., without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the followingclaims and their equivalents, rather than by the applications describedabove.

I claim:
 1. A stereophonic stethoscope for simultaneously monitoringsound which emanates from different locations on a subject's body, saidstethoscope comprising:a first sound sensor, wherein said first sensordetects a first sound which emanates from a first location on saidsubject's body when said first sensor is substantially in contact withsaid first location; a second sound sensor, wherein said second sensordetects a second sound which emanates from a second location on saidsubject's body when said second sensor is substantially in contact withsaid second location; a first sound transmission conductor wherein saidfirst conductor is connected to said first sound sensor such that saidfirst conductor is capable of transmitting said first sound from saidfirst sensor through said first conductor; a second sound transmissionconductor wherein said second conductor is connected to said secondsound sensor such that said second conductor is capable of transmittingsaid second sound from said second sensor through said second conductor;a T-junction having first, second and third connection ports whereinsaid T-junction is capable of transmitting said first sound and whereinsaid first conductor is connected to said first connection port of saidT-junction; a first stopcock connected to said second connection port ofsaid T-junction, wherein said first stopcock may be adjusted to transmitsaid first sound from said T-junction to a first ear piece; a secondstopcock connected to said third connection port of said T-junction,wherein said second stopcock may be adjusted to transmit either: (a)said second sound from said second conductor to a second ear piecewithout transmitting said first sound from said T-junction to saidsecond ear piece; or (b) said first sound from said T-junction to saidsecond ear piece without transmitting said second sound from said secondconductor to said second ear piece; a first ear tip connected to saidfirst ear piece, wherein said first sound is transmitted from said firstear piece to said first ear tip and from said first ear tip to a firstear of a first user of said stethoscope; and a second ear tip connectedto said second ear piece, wherein said second sound is transmitted fromsaid second ear piece to said second ear tip and from said second eartip to a second ear of said first user of said stethoscope when saidsecond stopcock is adjusted to transmit said second sound, and whereinsaid first sound is transmitted from said second ear piece to saidsecond ear tip and from said second ear tip to a second ear of saidfirst user of said stethoscope when said second stopcock is adjusted totransmit said first sound.
 2. The stereophonic stethoscope of claim 1,further comprising a teaching binaural attached to said first stopcockwherein said first stopcock may be adjusted to simultaneously transmitsaid first sound from said T-junction to said first ear piece and fromsaid T-junction to said teaching binaural and wherein said secondstopcock is adjusted to prevent the transmission of said second sound,allowing a second user to hear said first sound simultaneously with saidfirst user.
 3. The stethoscope of claim 2 wherein said second conductoris removably attached to said second stopcock.
 4. The stethoscope ofclaim 2 wherein said teaching binaural is removably attached to saidfirst stopcock.